The high outdoor humidity southwest Illinois frequently experiences has obvious effects on comfort outside, but it can also contribute to high indoor humidity that can reduce comfort, too. High indoor humidity can also result in a range of other problems, so if you find yourself with too much moisture in your home this summer, you may want to get a dehumidifier.
Similar to its effects outside, high indoor humidity levels can make warmer temperatures less comfortable, but it might also contribute to the following unwanted conditions:
- Clammy skin
- Stuffy air
- Sticky or sweaty floors and other surfaces
- Condensation on pipes
- Water stains on walls or ceilings
High indoor humidity levels can contribute to poor indoor air quality by encouraging the proliferation of mold and dust mites. These contribute allergens and irritants to the air, so they need to be avoided. Mold can also damage or stain surfaces that it grows on.
Dehumidifiers help you avoid the problems associated with high indoor humidity levels. They work by taking in air and removing the moisture from it before it’s redistributed. Depending on the size and type of dehumidifier you’re using, the excess water is either sent to a sump, drain through a hose or is collected in a container that needs to be emptied occasionally.
If you only have problems with humidity in one area, like your basement, a portable or room dehumidifier might work, but to control humidity throughout your home, you’ll want a whole-house dehumidifier. Using multiple portable dehumidifiers throughout your home is less convenient and efficient than using a whole-house dehumidifier. Portable units also tend to make more noise, take up more space, and require constant emptying of the water collection bucket.
Whole-house dehumidifiers are installed as part of your heating and cooling system, so they can use the ductwork to distribute dehumidified air to all the rooms in your home. Whole-house dehumidifiers can work concurrently with your air conditioning to remove moisture, or they can be operated independently when cooling isn’t needed.
If you’re interested in a whole-house dehumidifier for your home, please contact the professionals at Ernst Heating & Cooling. We’ve been serving the Alton, Glen Carbon and Hamel areas since 1951.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, and Troy, Illinois and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).Â